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Einar was sweating as Hallkel looked on, watching the fire he had been sending at the target start to die off.

“You’re out of wyrd again, but I will say I am still impressed at how much you have.”

Nodding at the older man Bior had selected to train him, Hallkel was another one who shaved his head, letting the tattoo show whenever he used his runic magic.

“The stance you have is good, but I’m afraid you are going to need to consider changing up what you do with your wyrd.”

As the older man spoke, he picked up the axe that was lying on the table near them and smiled.

“The wind mage taught you well to prepare your body and you have already demonstrated an amazing ability to send the magic from your hands and hit with very good proficiency,” Hallkel said as he moved to where Einar was standing.  “You need to realize that your wyrd is more than something you can just throw out and destroy things.  It can surround you, make you stronger, faster, keep you warm in the cold, and…”

The older man stopped talking, focusing on the axe for a moment, and flames began to run up his hand and along the shaft, coming to rest at the end where the metal was.

“If you learn to control it, you can give it a place to rest, waiting to be discharged from.”

“How in the nine realms did you do that?!” Einar asked, his face beaming with excitement at the thought of carrying around a flaming axe or spear.

Chuckling, the older man winked, and the flames vanished.

“I’m certain we have a lot more work to do before that day comes.  For now, just focus on making your hand be covered in flames.  Your own magic won’t harm you as you learned already.”

Einar nodded, wiping the sweat from his face, his body and core exhausted from the training he had just finished.

Focusing on his hand and the wyrd still inside, he tried to achieve something he had never considered possible.

***

“He’s doing it,” Thorodd muttered as he, Arngrim and Bior watched Einar light his axe head on fire.

“And in less than four days,” Arngrim complained. “That one has no idea the leaps he is making while others are struggling to crawl.”

“All that proves is that Odin has touched him,” Bior replied. “This is why we do what we must.”

The Jarl turned to Thorodd and frowned.

“How many can you two manage?”

Groaning, the tall Viking ran his hand through his brown hair and frowned.

“He doesn’t have the funds to maintain a pack for more than a few months.  His success would determine if he could continue to support those that he calls,” Thorodd said. “I’m certain many, like myself, would forgo coin for a while, the real problem would be materials, supplies, food, and the other things needed for a pack to be successful.  However…”

Pointing at the thegn who was attacking different targets with two flaming axes now, the massive man chuckled.

“When his men see that, and word spreads, some might pay to join his pack.  You have three months, maybe four tops, before you must take him to the king.  How much more can you give before someone asks if you are trying to replace Erik?”

Only the sounds of axe heads hitting wood could be heard for a moment as the three stood there silently, considering the things being discussed.

“You know that isn’t my goal.  My goal is to—”

“Jarl Bior, forgive me, but that is exactly what you are doing, even if it isn’t your goal. Eventually, Einar Sibbison will rise to such heights that no one will be able to deny that his power comes from Odin and the gods, and they will seek to raise him to that position. When it happens, we all know the blood that might be shed. Are you willing to die for that?”

“I am,” Arngrim said without taking his eyes off the Viking now showing off with different moves and twists, flames swirling around him. “Anyone who cannot see this is blind or against what the All-Father has obviously decided must be done.”

Sighing, Bior nodded his head slowly.

“I have fought and died before.  I know the cost of what it means to keep our people safe and to attempt to act as Odin wills it.  Now I see for the first time in a generation or two, one who can truly lead us to the place we are called.  If it means me dying and even losing my position in order to bring about this change, so be it.”

Thorodd nodded, saying nothing else.

“Give me a number. How much do you need?”

“About 200 gold, My Jarl.”

Bobbing his head, Bior began to stroke his beard. 

“I will have it ready for you tomorrow.  Talk with Einar.  Tell him what we must do and how fast it must happen.”

***

“Your face looks like you either sat on a stick or I’m about to hear some bad news,” Einar said before dumping the bucket of water he was holding over his head.  As the cold water ran down his body and he shook his hair, sending a spray everywhere, he wiped his eyes and studied Thorodd.

“What is it?”

“Tomorrow we shall go shopping and I have men coming who will put their axe at your feet.  You shall have your pack in a week, and we shall begin a new life, but I must warn you.”

Thorodd moved closer to the man he had sworn to serve, looking down upon the one that now looked like a wet rat.  A very fit wet rat.

“We cannot fail.  The cost of a resurrection stone is going to consume most of our gold, but we must have one otherwise we cannot go out alone.  The men I have chosen will be a combination that works for us, each gifted differently.  You said you trust my judgment, right?”

Einar nodded, wondering what the shoe that was about to fall might be.

“One of them will be your friend and the other… is someone you have not had a great reputation with.”

Cocking his head, Einar looked at Thorodd and tried to think about which Viking might present this many problems.

“No one here would be…” the truth hit home like a bolt of lightning, and Einar winced at what he realized Thorodd hadn’t said, or whom he hadn’t mentioned.  “Skardi?”

Nodding, Thorodd held up a few fingers.

“He will bring the assistance of Jarl Unnulf.  Having Skardi in our pack will force King Erik to be unable to move against us.  Do not doubt the young man’s ability.  Bior and I have made multiple inquiries, and a conversation took place between the two.  The boy with a temper has mellowed and grown up.  His Strength and skill are much greater than when you two met two years ago.  While I doubt he could defeat you, I’m certain you wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of one of his attacks.”

“So Skardi, you, Osvif, and?”

“In two days, you’ll meet them. I won’t share their names yet. That was the agreement I made. They want you to know them the moment they approach you, but be warned: a few other pack leaders will be jealous. Where so many start off with copper coins and one or two silver ones, your purse is filled with gold coins. The only three who are not are you, Skardi and Osvif.  For that to be a starting pack, we must win. Every time.”

“I don’t plan on losing,” Einar replied. “Ever.”

Laughing, Thorodd shook his head and looked up at the sky.

“Odin, why have you decided to test me so with this one?”

“Very well, so tomorrow we purchase everything we need.  When can we start raiding?”

Rubbing his eyes, Thorodd finally opened them and put a hand on Einar’s shoulder.

“You cannot wait to prove who you are, but we need to plan first.  There is much to—”

“We raid the elf realm first,” Einar said, cutting off his only warrior as he spoke. “Alfheim has many creatures there that are needed for runes that we want to create.  The light elves will be excited to have some of them removed and a few threats dealt with. There are quests we can complete and earn coins, food, alcohol and items we need. Our ability to do so successfully will result in better relationships and trade opportunities.  We are going to need them when the time comes to prepare gear for Jotunheim, Muspelheim and Niflheim.”

Roaring like a drunken fool, Thorodd’s whole body shook when Einar stopped talking.

Crossing his arms, the soon to be pack leader waited for the man to stop his outburst.

“You speak like these are walks in the park!” exclaimed Thorodd. “We haven’t even put together a pack and you’re already wanting to run off to a realm?! Why not start in the forests beyond the barriers? Fetch wood or ore or body parts? Surely you can see the foolishness of going so big so soon!”

Waiting till he was certain his overgrown friend was done, Einar grinned.

“Would you expect our pack to simply kill trolls or gather wood? Or if you joined, having heard of the first Viking in ages to kill a shadow walker and save his two friends from one, how can anything but facing a creature as dangerous as one of those be considered worthy? Yet how about a warrior who entered a gate and destroyed a portal stone after just getting his thegn title, to be that kind of Viking? No!” shouted Einar. “You would demand just as much of a chance to gain honor and gold like that! You would expect to raid the frozen fortresses of Jotunheim and tear down the walls with our bare hands! No Viking is coming to join this pack, expecting guard duty! If that is what you think I will do, then perhaps I might need to consider if this is the pack for you.”

Thorodd took a step back. The words that ended his outburst hit the giant man harder than any strike he had received lately.

Stunned, the man’s mouth hung open. After a few seconds, he slowly nodded his head. His mouth closed and began to form a smile.

“Curse you, Einar!” he shouted playfully. “You are right! I do not want to simply sit behind walls waiting for men to harvest ore so I can ride back in a cart and try to escape wolves! I want to do something skalds will sing about!”

Nodding, Einar held out his arm and waited till Thorodd took it.

“I swear to you, every chance I get, what we do will be special.  There may be moments when we have to watch over a quarry or go and clear a wood of trolls, but it won’t be what our pack is known for.  There will also be a day when 100 of us step into another realm and the denizens of that place hide, knowing that the destruction we bring cannot be avoided and that the ones who serve Odin are there to bring about his will!”

Both men gripped the others arm tightly and were laughing and smiling, ready for what was about to take place.

“I hate to break off this love fest,” Arngrim called out suddenly.

Both men turned and saw the rune crafter rolling his eyes and laughing quietly.

“We need to go see Bior.  Apparently, there is a pack of shieldmaidens at his hall, and they are specifically asking for you, Einar.”

Thorodd glanced at his pack leader and then at Arngrim, realizing this wasn’t a joke and began to laugh.

“Oh… the stories the skalds will sing tonight… Einar the shieldmaiden conqueror.”


Comments

Demonlord

Thanks for the awesome chapter 😊 It's nice to see his progress and the plans they have 😁 With all these shieldmaiden waiting for him I wonder how many kids will be there in 9 months 🙃🤣

Gordon

Tftc loving every bit so far